Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

 Organization

Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:

Portrait of Juana of Austria and a Young Girl, "Isabella Stewart Gardner bought this painting as a Titian, although she had been warned by Bernard Berenson that the attribution was in some doubt. Perhaps reluctant to disappoint his patron, Berenson changed his mind, and helped Gardner with the purchase. She hung the painting opposite Titian’s Europa. Although not by Titian, it was painted at precisely the same time that the Europa arrived at the Spanish court. Sofonisba Anguissola was born into a minor aristocratic family in Cremona, and studied painting under Bernardino Campi. In 1560, she was appointed painter to the new queen of Spain, Isabel de Valois (1546–1568), who had become Philip II’s third wife. She taught the young queen drawing and made numerous portraits of the royal family and members of the court. The subject of the portrait, Juana of Austria (1535–1573), was a formidable politician and patron of the arts. Daughter of Charles V (she wears a cameo of the emperor in this painting), Juana married Prince Juan of Portugal. After just two years of marriage, Juan died and Juana returned to Spain to become regent while her brother Philip II was in England. Although she was celebrated for her ability in state affairs, Juana thereafter devoted her energies to religious life. In 1557, she founded a monastery, the Descalzas Reales, which became an important center of artistic patronage. This portrait was painted in 1561 for the pope, and was thus meant to show Juana’s religious devotion. The child by her side is probably a young aristocrat under her protection who is being prepared to enter the religious order. Source: Alan Chong, "Portrait of Juana of Austria with a Young Girl," in Eye of the Beholder, edited by Alan Chong et al. (Boston: ISGM and Beacon Press, 2003): 91." (Isabella Stewart Gallery Online)

 Item — Box 283: [Barcode: 30081049760709]
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s41-i0138
Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.SPAN.0079; Public Notes:

Dates: 1930 - 1967

Saint Engracia, "Richly dressed in gold brocade and with a cloak trimmed in ermine, Saint Engracia stands before a throne. Engracia was thought to be a fourth-century Portuguese princess who was brutally tortured by the Roman proconsul of the city of Zaragoza. The cult of Engracia became especially popular in Aragon. Bermejo depicts the saint wearing a crown and holding a nail, one of the instruments of her torture; in her other hand is the palm frond which signifies a martyr saint. This painting was the central panel of an altarpiece. The surrounding works illustrated episodes from the life of Engracia (now in San Diego, Bilbao, and Daroca). The altarpiece was commissioned by a wealthy merchant named Johan de Loperuelo for a chapel in the church of San Francisco in Daroca. Bermejo was profoundly influenced by the oil paint technique of Netherlandish painting, which he in turn was instrumental in transmitting to other Spanish artists" (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Online). Post also affirms "[t]he nail held by the feminine saint who occupies the whole panel identifies her with virtual certainty as the local martyr of Saragossa, Engracia...and, since she enjoyed little, if any, cult outside of Aragon, it follows that the painting must have been executed for a church of the city..." (Post, 132).

 Item — Box 283: [Barcode: 30081049760709]
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s41-i0088
Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.SPAN.0053; Public Notes:

Dates: 1930 - 1967

Saint Francis, A full body portrait of the saint holding a book and cross., 1350-1450

 Item — Box 206B: [Barcode: 30081049759859]
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s19-i2291
Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.VENI.2247; Public Notes: This is a basic record created to enable public access to scanned images. Full research on this image is pending. For assistance, please e-mail us at specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Dates: 1350-1450

The Adoration of the Statue of Nebuchadnezzar, A crowd kneels before King Nebuchadnezzar who stands before his statue. Shadrach, Mescach, and Abednego stand to the left in refusal., 1530-1600

 Item — Box 206B: [Barcode: 30081049759859]
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s19-i2412
Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.VENI.2361.1; Public Notes: This is a basic record created to enable public access to scanned images. Full research on this image is pending. For assistance, please e-mail us at specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Dates: 1530-1600

The Madonna and Child, Mary the Mother of Christ adores the reclining child in her lap., 1350-1450

 Item — Box 206B: [Barcode: 30081049759859]
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s19-i2290
Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.VENI.2246; Public Notes: This is a basic record created to enable public access to scanned images. Full research on this image is pending. For assistance, please e-mail us at specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Dates: 1350-1450

The Madonna and Child, Mary the Mother of Christ holds the infant Jesus close to her side. The Christ Child gestures a sign of blessing with both hands., 1450-1500

 Item — Box 206B: [Barcode: 30081049759859]
Identifier: spc-mss0088-s19-i2326
Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.VENI.2282; Public Notes: This is a basic record created to enable public access to scanned images. Full research on this image is pending. For assistance, please e-mail us at specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Dates: 1450-1500

About this Site

This site contains collection guides, or finding aids, to the archival collections held by Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, the History of Medicine Collection, and the Scarritt Bennett Center. Finding aids describe the context, arrangement, and structure of archival materials, allowing users to identify and request materials relevant to their research.

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